With two rounds down in the Six Nations, the shocking truth is that OvallyBalls underdoggers have been proven right – or perhaps have so disheartened their national sides that the players lost the will to play.
Here is the state of the nations:
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | For | Against | Pts Diff | Bonus | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Les Bleus du mal | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 39 | 20 | 1 | 9 |
| Smiling Green Machine | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 26 | 17 | 1 | 9 |
| Leeks | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 56 | 24 | 32 | 1 | 5 |
| Saracens | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 30 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Kiltie-wearers | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 32 | -14 | 2 | 2 |
| Pasta-scoffers | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 77 | -55 | 0 | 0 |
From this, we can observe several things. One is that the rankings should be based secondarily on the fewest points conceded, as it indicates a better defence. Any fool can score tries against a weaker defence. In the case of England, we can see that their attack and defence are equally great / rubbish [delete as appropriate]. And Scotland are the only side to have achieved two bonus points, although perhaps for the wrong reasons.
However, it’s still wide open for at least four teams. The remaining fixtures are as follows:
| 22/02 | Italy v Scotland | 14:15 |
| Wales v France | 16:45 | |
| 23/02 | England v Ireland | 15:00 |
| 07/03 | Ireland v Italy | 14:15 |
| England v Wales | 16:45 | |
| 08/03 | Scotland v France | 15:00 |
| 14/03 | Wales v Scotland | 14:15 |
| Italy v England | 16:45 | |
| France v Ireland | 20:00 |
The Super Saturday fixtures are, of course, being played in Heidelberg, so all true rugby fans should get their arses there.
My prediction is a narrow win for each of the home sides next weekend, which will bolster the excitement of the following rounds, except for Scottish fans, who will be gurning into their whiskey and cursing SuperSergio, homer refs and the professional era in general.
Meanwhile, this weekend we have Pro14 / English Premiership matches, if Dennis doesn’t menace all of them; Dragons v Treviso has already been cancelled.
Further Reading
TomPirracas has a better idea of how the Italy v Scotland match will go.
Chimpie is looking forward to this weekend’s ProWoo.
On the telly this week
Friday 14th February
| Blues 8 – 25 Crusaders | 06:05 | Sky Sports Action |
| Rebels 24 – 10 Waratahs | 08:15 | Sky Sports Action |
| Glasgow 56 – 24 Zebre | 19:35 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Munster 68 – 3 Kings | 19:35 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Gloucester 15 – 26 Exeter | 19:45 | BT Sport 2 |
Saturday 15th February
| Sunwolves 17 – 43 Chiefs | 03:45 | Sky Sports Mix |
| Hurricanes 38 – 22 Sharks | 06:05 | Sky Sports Arena |
| Brumbies 22 – 23 Highlanders | 08:15 | Sky Sports Arena |
| Lions 30 – 33 Stormers | 13:05 | Sky Sports Arena |
| Leinster 35 – 12 Cheetahs | 14:30 | Free Sports |
| Leicester 18 – 9 Wasps | 15:00 | BT Sport 1 |
| Scarlets 9 – 14 Edinburgh | 15:00 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Ospreys 26 – 24 Ulster | 17:15 | S4C / Premier Sports 2 |
| Connacht 29 – 0 Cardiff | 19:35 | TG4 / Premier Sports 1 |
| Los Jaguares 43 – 27 Reds | 23:00 | Sky Sports Action |
Sunday 16th February
| Northampton v Bristol | 15:00 | BT Sport 1 |
Ovally Balls 
great stuff!
For the record, Scotland’s bonus points are the rugby equivalent of the ‘no-one’s a loser’ mantra.
Just sayin’
………………………….wanders off, hands in pockets, whistling a spiritual…………….
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niggly? moi?
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Slade … erm, poor Italy?
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I’m back on the LZR bandwagon.
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Italy are honored founding members of 6N and everyone loves them……………………………….
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except Scotland – next up!
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Everyone loves Italy … until they lose to them!
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“niggly? moi?”
Hateful. And warlike.
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Exeter vs. Glos should be quite a scrap tonight……………
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If you’re watching Super Rugby tomorrow a few South African names to keep an eye on – Boeta Chamberlain makes his debut at 10 for the Sharks in Wellington. 20, tasty. On the bench two young and handy back rowers – Phendulani “Pepsi” Buthelezi and Dylan Richardson. Ox Nche also going ok in Durban.
And for Deebee’s Lions one of the best players i saw at schoolboy level – Manny Rass. He’s only little and plays 13 but fast, strong and with all the moves.
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yos, am all about Cavan Davies nowadays.
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‘Mon ra Weedge! I’m quite glad we’re playing tonight, not tomorrow.
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Wee Dodd scores
as per
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Are we calling him LZR now?
Good for some loser-themed niggle.
More niggle, more joy.
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Going to watch TV with the wife tonight. Updates appreciated, especially a bit of narrative.
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Although I think the only interesting game will be in the GP. Weedge and Turnips will put hammers down.
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LRZ wouldn’t have knocked on.
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Glasgow ate in full Harlem Globetrotter mode. They are irresistible when they do this
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Second try Glasgow! Sounds like Leone’s already made himself at home – again.
14-0 after 10 minutes.
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BB, Glasgow are playing into a gale, but they look so good when they run the ball
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Exeter with the early pressure but Nic White Ben Youngs it into touch. No score.
Someone give it to LRZ.
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The impressively named Danielli Rimpelli gets one back for Zebre, close quarters forward drives
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Missed the try because I was eating bacon and egg muffins. Was it Vermeulen? 0-7
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Yup. Close drive. As you would expect.
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Ticht – there’s a gale at Scotstoun on calm nights.
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Mostert, ex-Deebee’s Dirty Lions, neck rolls Jannes Kirsten, ex-Bull.
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Excellent by LRZ. Chips delicately and forces a line out 6 out.
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Very rough penalty on George Horne gives Zebre a sitter in front of the sticks
14-10 Glasgow
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Hmmm. Another penalty to Zebre.
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LRZ now wins a penalty after a good follow-up tackle on Nic White.
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Gloucester, in their ‘heritage kit’ of purple and black, get a penalty back. 3-7.
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There’s a good line from an old Alan Watkins article in The Independent that “In the old days a Bath United player would play for Dorset & Wiltshire in the County Championship not they play international rugby for Scotland”. Joe Simpson’s just gone off for Gloucester and they’ve bought on Italy’s starting scrum half, probably Glos’s 3rd choice.
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75-metre touch finder from Cipriani after a turnover at a ruck in Gloucester’s 22.
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Really nice try from Zebre, pure pace from the 15 splits the Glasgow defence, a nice wee pass inside and Bob’s your uncle
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Oh shit. Zebre lead now. Bugger.
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Cipriani telegraphs an inside ball and is intercepted by Steenson. GS puts the toe on it and then runs very very slowly in pursuit. He’s an old fella now but the legs move leg mine.
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“Where would Tyson play if he were a rugby player?”
Well, obviously in the front row, biting off the opposition’s ears.
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Wee Dodd in again
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Ooh. Braley v Heinz starting at 9 for Italy and England would be great.
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Oi, Thaum, I never bit a lug in my life.
I did try to hurt my opponent in almost every other way, but never had a nibble
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thaum, I played age group rugby with the guy who got done for that playing for Bath against London Scottish. Didn’t much like him but he was a good player and hadn’t thought him the type to do that kind of thing.
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Cipriani gets a low pass and tries to flick it up using his cultured left peg. Ball pops straight into a Racist’s mitts.
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Another intercept from Cipriani to end the half. Gloucester were on the attack, not going particularly anywhere, but he’s killing them at the moment.
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Cippers has done 3 bad things for every good thing.
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I was makin a wee joke about Mike Tyson.
The first time I heard about front-row biting was from an American colleague who’d played a bit of rugby. Biting, gouging – she’d seen/felt it all, and possibly participated in it.
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Have a vague recollection of a South Wales Police player getting done for biting a chunk of someone’s ear off back in the 80s or early 90s.
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Thaum, I was trying to respond in joking kind
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Ticht – me too! But probably not at my best today.
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Not liking Cippers V.2. Fire him into the sun.
Utna talked about everyone keeping the ball at the lineout in the good old days, so we’re rolling back the years as ever thought the season so far. What a clusterfuck.
Losing at halftime with the wind behind us without the Rascists even playing well.
Huge sigh. Just give it to LRZ.
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Big Naka offloads, inspector gadget style, to Dolokoto on dayboo for the BP score.
He’s been on the park two minutes
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